El Diente Peak, Mountain summit in San Juan Mountains, Colorado, US
El Diente Peak is a summit in the San Juan Mountains that rises to approximately 14,165 feet and features a tooth-shaped profile visible from across the range. The terrain consists of rocky slopes, sharp ridges, and talus fields that make the ascent technically demanding.
The first documented climb occurred in 1930 when mountaineers Dwight Lavender, Forrest Greenfield, and Chester Price reached the summit and named it after its tooth-like shape. The peak has since remained an important landmark in this mountain region.
The peak sits within Lizard Head Wilderness, where spruce and fir forests give way to alpine meadows as visitors climb higher. Its distinctive tooth-like shape has made it a recognizable landmark that hikers use to orient themselves in the San Juan range.
Climbers access the mountain through two main trailheads: Kilpacker Trailhead starting around 10,060 feet (3,070 m) or Woods Lake Trailhead starting around 9,352 feet (2,850 m). Navajo Lake provides camping options for those planning a longer visit.
Despite its modest topographic prominence, the ascent is challenging because climbers must navigate loose rock and rough terrain where slipping is a genuine risk. This technical difficulty gives the mountain an unexpected level of challenge for its size.
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